Nut-lock.



llaman 'terras Artnr OFFICE.

THOMAS M. PRICE, OF ITASOA, TEXAS,'ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAY S. RICHARD, OF ITASCA, TEXAS.

NUT-LOCK.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,805, dated. February 18, 1902. Application filed May 1S, 1901. Serial No. 60,898. (No model-l To aZZ who/11, it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAS M. PRICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Itasca, in the county of Hill and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Nut-Lock, of which the following is a specication.

The present invention relates to nu t-locks, and particularly to that class embodying a base-Washer having a spring-arm projecting from its outer face and arranged to engage the side of the nut to prevent its retrograde movement.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive article which will securely hold a nut in place upon a bolt and form a yielding support beneath the same. More particularly, the aim is to provide a comparatively long locking-tongue that will have great resiliency to permit of the free rotation of the nut in one direction, but will form an impassible obstacle against accidental movement in the other, and to provide an oppositely disposed supporti-ng or cushioning tongue having a broad bearing or gripping terminal and a contracted and resilient shank.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is clearly shown in the accompanying drawings,and the construction and operation thereof are fully described in the following specification. It will of course be understood that such slight changes may he made from the construction shown and described as will fall within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a railway-rail joint, showing the improved nut-lock applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view ot' the lock detached. Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig. 4 is an edge view, of the same.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The improved lock, as shown, is constructed of asingle piece of spring sheet metal stamped to the appropriate shape. In the preferred embodiment it is rectangular in form, although it may be differently shaped, as desired. The washer is designated by the numeral land is provided with a centrally-disposed bolt-receiving opening 2. Itis furthermore provided with a slit 3, that extends into the same from one edge to a point approximately in line with the opposite edge of the bolt-receiving opening, from whence the slit is continued, as indicated at 7, at right angles into the said opposite side of the opening, thus separating this side ofthe washer into two oppositely-disposed tonguesf and 5, The outer tongue-Lis offset on one side 6 ofthe washer and curved from its base to its outeror free end, therebyconstitutingthelocking-tongue. The other tongue 5 is offset. on the opposite side of the washer, and because of the particular location of the transverse slit 7 it will be seen that this tongue is provided with a broad terminal bearing-foot and a contracted spring-l shank, thus affording a secure gripping edge without sacrificing the resiliency desired. 1t will furthermore be seen by reference to Fig. 4 that this tongue is bent from the outer edge of the washer, so that an exceedingly long shank is provided. The portion 8 of the washer between the base of the inner tongue and the opposite edge of said washer is likewise bent or offset from said outer edge to the tongue, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and therefore when the lock is placed against the fish-plate or other object not only is the outer tongue 4 raised above the same, but the portion 9 between the base of said outer tongue and the opposite edge ot' the washer is disposed at an inclination and spaced from the fish-plate, heing located in a plane that intersects the plane of the portion 8. An angular tongue is therefore provided which is equal in length to the length of the two sides of the washer, and great resiliency is thereby obtained. By this construction it will he seen that both tongues are therefore made of the greatest possible length, and the curving of the outer one atfords an easy incline over which the nut will readily ride while being threaded upon the bolt. At the same time after the edge has passed said tongue will spring up behind the same, and thus prevent its retrograde movement. The free edge of the inner tongue, on the other hand, bears against the adjacent surface of the article held by the bolt, and because of its great width it provides along biting edge, the contracted shank, however, aiordingtho necessary resiliency.

IOO

From the foregoing it is thought that theA construction,operation,and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without fur! :ther description, and it will -be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construct-ion may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages jof the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- A nut-lock comprising a base-washer having a bolt-receiving opening therethrough,

said washer having a straight slit extending into the base from one edge to a point in line with the opposite edge of the bolt-receiving opening and extending from said point in a straight line into the opening at said opposite edge, thereby forming a pair of oppoi sitely-projecting tongues fi and 5, the outer tongue 4 being oiset and arranged at an inclination to the remainder of the washer, the inner tongue 5 being located inside of the outer tongue, said inner tongue and the portion 8 of the washer between its base and the opposite edge of said washer being oiset and arranged at an inclination to the remainder of the Washer, and being furthermore offset on the opposite side to the tongue 4, whereby, when the washer is placed upon a fish-plate the outer tongue 4 and the portion 9 of the Washer between its base and the opposite edge of the said washer will be raised above said fish-plate and constitute a locking-tongue that extends the length of two sides of the washer,said inner tongue 5 comprising a broad bearing-foot at its free terminal, and a oontracted spring-shank between the terminal foot and its base.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS M. PRICE.

XV itnesses:

R. W. COFFIN, .T. M. COFFIN. 

